John Therien and Robert Rehm Present at North Carolina Central University School of Law Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Law Review Symposium

Raleigh, NC (April 5, 2011) – John Therien and Robert Rehm, lawyers in Smith Anderson’s Life Sciences and Intellectual Property practice groups, participated in panel discussions among intellectual property law practitioners, in-house counsel, and administrators at a symposium sponsored by the North Carolina Central University School of Law Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Law Review. The Symposium, entitled "Intersections: Law & Biotechnology," was held on Friday, April 1, 2011, at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center located in Research Triangle Park, NC.

Therien's panel, "Licensing and Technology Transfer," explored issues related to university technology transfer from the perspectives of academic inventors, university technology transfer offices, and small business entities seeking to collaborate with universities. Therien's presentation, entitled "Invention, Ownership, Collaboration: The Implications of Stanford v. Roche" focused on the Stanford v. Roche case recently argued before the U.S. Supreme Court and the potential impact the case may have on technology transfer practices.

Rehm's panel, "Intellectual Property Noteworthy Cases," focused on developments in intellectual property law arising from recent cases heard by the U.S. Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Rehm's presentation, "Technology Transfer DOs and DON'Ts," addressed some of the most prevalent misconceptions and potential traps for the unwary with respect to transfers of ownership in, and licenses under, technology and related intellectual property rights and how such issues recently have taken center stage in several Supreme Court and Federal Circuit cases.